Seems like some sort of issue with their online store or limitation for the sake of limitation. But you are still able to, as you mentioned, through other avenues.
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So Apple will not sell the iPhone for full retail at launch?
- Thread starter bobright
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If you do NEXT, the phone will be locked to AT&T until you finish paying it off. If you pay in full, it's unlocked from day 1. Then you can use a local SIM card when traveling overseas vs. paying for international roaming.
I guess that's one of the trade offs with a program like that with AT&T and perhaps T-Mobile. Not so much of an issue with Verizon's Edge.
There are many times that I wasn't eligible for an upgrade including last year when the 5S came out. It didn't matter as there still was no option to pay full retail through the online store. I was told I either had to go through AT&T or come into the Apple store in order to pay full retail. I know others that weren't eligible to upgrade and they were not able to pay full retail online either.
If you do not reference your existing account, how in the world would they KNOW you are eligible or not.
Just went to the store. I can
a) Buy with NEXT - ATT
b) Buy on 2 yr contract - ATT
c) Buy with Tmoble - full price
d) Buy with no sim - full price
Why deal with the ATT option?
Personally, I have yet to find a reason to NOT buy via NEXT. Okay, one reason maybe. Somebody that knows they are going intl in the NEAR future.
This discussion comes up every year without fail. You can always go into an Apple store (including launch day) and buy a "device only" iPhone, it will be unlocked.
You can go in and get any model you want, just ask for it to be device only and they will ring you up and take your money. The "locking" happens when they ring it up with your account and get a subsidy.
Verizon "device only" is the model to get for maximum flexibility. It will work with any carrier besides Sprint.
Both the 5 and the 5s allowed first day device only purchases with no lock. I do not see it being any different this year. Apple wants your $.
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T-Mobile and AT&T is the EXACT same phone. They only difference is the SIM you get with it. All GSM capable iPhones bought at full price will work on any GSM carrier.
Verizon is the same exact phone but with it's CDMA functions enabled so if you care about carrier freedom, get the Verizon "device only". If you are not interested in Verizon at all then just get the T-Mobile or AT&T at full price and you can pop whichever carrier's SIM you fancy.
You can go in and get any model you want, just ask for it to be device only and they will ring you up and take your money. The "locking" happens when they ring it up with your account and get a subsidy.
Verizon "device only" is the model to get for maximum flexibility. It will work with any carrier besides Sprint.
Both the 5 and the 5s allowed first day device only purchases with no lock. I do not see it being any different this year. Apple wants your $.
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T-Mobile and AT&T is the EXACT same phone. They only difference is the SIM you get with it. All GSM capable iPhones bought at full price will work on any GSM carrier.
Verizon is the same exact phone but with it's CDMA functions enabled so if you care about carrier freedom, get the Verizon "device only". If you are not interested in Verizon at all then just get the T-Mobile or AT&T at full price and you can pop whichever carrier's SIM you fancy.
Would this verizon model fetch more money in the long run if sold "unlocked" later down the line?
This is a great post and all correct. Just one extra word of warning though... this only applies to getting phones directly from an Apple Store.
All Verizon LTE iPhones come factory unlocked anywhere, which is true so that's the easiest model to buy.
However, for the T-Mobile and AT&T models, at the Apple Store when someone buys a phone "device only" they add it directly to Apple's "whitelist" thereby making the phone unlocked. If you were to buy these models ANYWHERE else then the Apple Store, including directly from a T-Mobile or AT&T store, they WILL BE locked to their respective carriers EVEN if you pay full price for the device. They have ABSOLUTELY NO OBLIGATION to submit your IMEI to Apple's whitelist and often act like its a huge deal for them to do so (and they're doing you a favor). AT&T in the past has actually been fairly good about doing it (even if it can take days for them to do so), but T-Mobile requires you to have 6 weeks of service for them to even consider it.
This is a hugely confusing and messed up thing the carriers seem to love doing so that customers are as confused as possible.
So just to clarify... if you're in the market for an unlocked iPhone 6 or 6L on launch day and would like to pay full price for the phone without a contract
For the Apple Store online preorder:
- The T-Mobile model will be the UNLOCKED GSM model, meaning you'll be able to use it on T-Mobile & AT&T in the US. Verizon or Sprint will not work on this model (even if the CDMA bands will likely be in the device) because US carriers suck. Remember you MUST BUY this ONLY from the Apple Online Store directly. If you buy this model from any other source including T-Mobile themselves it will be LOCKED to T-Mobile.
Some people have had luck preordering the device only Verizon model from Verizon's website, but others haven't. The T-Mobile version is the only one that Apple allows purchase of without a contract for preorder. They've never sold the others without a contract for a preorder.
In Stores:
The Verizon Model (anywhere you can find it) is the one to buy "device only" on launch day. Some Verizon and Best Buy stores won't sell you one without a contract, and others will. It's totally up to the managers. Expect to pay anywhere from $50-$200 OVER RETAIL PRICE if you buy it anywhere then the Apple Store. They will gouge your eyes out. All Apple Stores will sell this model this way if you request it and it is the best place to buy them since they do not overcharge.
AT&T & T-Mobile models can also be purchased "device only" at an Apple Store and they will do the work to unlock them at purchase. Some Apple Stores have been known to not add the iPhones to the whitelist until the end of the day in a batch, but they seem to be getting better at this and doing them at purchase at most.
Thank you for all the info. Is there any reason at all then to buy the T-mobile iPhone device only from the Apple store in-person? It seems like the Verizon device-only iPhone only has advantages compared to the T-mobile version...right? Other than the fact that you can do an online preorder for the t-mobile version from Apple store online
That's correct.
That's also why I don't understand all these people saying that Next is somehow more expensive than buying upfront.
If bought full price "device only" at an Apple store both ATT and Tmobile (as well as VZ) are unlocked.
If you buy a Tmobile phone from Tmobile it will be locked....for a minimum of something like 50-60 days even if you pay full price. You can then apply to unlock it.
I made the distinction of saying "if unlocked" because it is possible to have a locked Tmobile phone.
If selling in the future, will the Verizon version net you THAT much more profit? It'll be my first time buying off-contract, and it seems like getting the tmobile version online will be more convenient since you can preorder. I'm not sure if braving the crowds at the Apple store on launch day is worth the extra profit from the Verizon version.
At this point even non-techies have likely heard about how the Verizon models are unlocked... and lets face it... The uninformed are who pay outrageous prices for phones on ebay. So while the Verizon version can typically edge about $50 or so more in profit...ANY unlocked brand new iPhone model is going to sell for a boatload. I have always gotten a free top of-the-line iPhone by buying two at full price unlocked, selling one for double (even triple) price on launch day. Its a pain and requires much preparation but you can seriously profit on desperate folks who must have it now with plenty of cash to burn.
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Also remember that your preorder with Apple is likely NOT going to arrive by launch day, but rather 5 days later. There have been awesome exceptions to this rule, but its totally random and frustrating. Remember, the crazy prices decrease by an order of magnitude every day away from the launch day. you MUST have the phone IN YOUR HANDS to fedex that same day to justify someone paying $3000 for a phone (as nuts as they may be)
This.
And Apple launched the trade-in program so you can bring your old iPhone and get a discount on a new one. Cook wants to sell more iPhone in Apple Store so they're happy to sell you a phone at full retail price without involving a carrier.
If you buy "device only" from the Apple Store does the come SIM-less? What's the process for having that new phone replace your old one, both the number and on your account?
I've only purchased subsidized up to now, so I'm wondering what will be involved in getting a "device only" iPhone 6 up and on-network.
I've only purchased subsidized up to now, so I'm wondering what will be involved in getting a "device only" iPhone 6 up and on-network.
Well, I'm not buying on launch day to flip ASAP. I normally hold onto my phones for 2 years, sell, then upgrade. I was just wondering if the Verizon model will get me much more than the Tmobile version when I eventually sell. I'd rather not camp out on launch day and if I can order from the comfort of my own home, then I'll do that instead, even if I won't get it on day 1.